Watchcase



July 5,1927. 1,634,447

` G, w. BOWEN WATCHCASE Filed Sept 25. 1.925

Patented July 5, 1927.

UNITEDSTAT'ES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. BOWEN, OFy ELGIN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ILLINOIS WATCH CASE COM- PANY, OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

WATCHCASE.

Animation inea september'es, 1925. serial No. 58,532.

This .invention which relates to `watch cases is concerned particularly with an assembly with the case center of the bezel and of a spread dial which is affixed to the movement. Among the advantages gained 1s a simplified construction in which these several parts are arranged in a very compact relation. With cases having thin, odd, or irregular shapes, the invention will be found lo particularly suitable. y

An exemplifcation of my invention is set forth in the drawing in the manner following:

Fifrure 1 is a top plan view of a wrist or l5 bracclet watch;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the bezel removed;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the under side of the dial plate removed from the movement;

Fig. t shows in plan the underside of the bezel; p

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the movement assembled within the case, the dial plate and bezel being removed therefrom;

Fig. G is a transverse section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 which is a view similar to Fig. 2

shows a modiiied construction.

Ther parts with which my invention is :w particularly concerned include a case center A within which is mounted al movement B having a dial plate C. A'bezel D for the .crystal is carried on the front face of the case center and upon the rear face thereof a back E is provided.

The movement, as shown, is circular, and may have an overhanging pillar plate 10 the edges of which are adapted to'fit within an annular seat 11 formed) in the case center.

1.o The walls surrounding this seat are extended outwardly at places to provide a plurality of opstanding arc-shaped ribs 12 having, by preference, a common center. The contour of the casecenter ma be of any desired i5 form, such, for example, as is suggested in Figs. 2`and 7, and its 4upper or front face 13 lies substantiallv flush' with the movement v pillar plate. i f

. Associated with the movement is the dial late C which may be connected thereto as y means of pins 14. The contour of the f dial plate is preferably similar to that of 'the case center. A spread dial having the elon ated formy 'shown in Fig. 2, may be `fitte between the ribs 12 with its end portions 15 extended outwardly therebetween sofas to lie upon the face 13 of the case center. The bezel D, which is adapted for association with a case of the kind described, is provided with marginal walls 16 which overlie the edges of the dial plate. Formed in these walls are suitable arcshaped recesses 17 for accommodating the ribs 12 in a manner which permits of an interlock therewith. A crystal 18 may be mount-ed in the bezel in the usual way.

The construction illustrated in Fig. 7 is in all substantial respects the same as has been described in connection with the remaining figures. In this example the contour of the case center is such as to provide a plurality of points 19 and a spread dial of generally corresponding shape is accordingly associated therewith. Surrounding the movement seat are arc-shaped ribs 12, here shown as four in number, and separated to leave spaces through which the dial plate corners 20 may extend. In the construction which I have shown, the several ribs 12 may be regarded as independent entities or as a single rib with interruptions. Through the spaces thus provided portions ot the dial plate may extend so as to overlie the upper face of the case center. This construction makes for a very compact assembly with simplicity characterizing each of its principal components. A great advantage yresults from the use of arc-shaped ribs forming part of a common circle, and of a bezel having a complementary recess wherein such ribs may be accommodated, inasmuch as these parts of the case structure which are formable on a lathe or other revolving machine, may thereby be produced more accurately and with less expense.

I claim:

1. In combination, a watch case center, a dial plate extended in part to overlie one face thereof. and ribs upstanding in spaced relation on the case center with their ends adjacent the edges ofthe dial plate to position the same upon the case center, and a bezel shaped to cover the periphery of the dial plate and removably connected to the ribs, substantially as described.

2. In combination` a watch case center adapted to accommodate a movement, interrupted ribs upstanding from one face of the case center, and a dial plate affixed to the movement and having portions of itself exlli) 4. In combination, a Watch oase center, a spread dial extended in part to Overlie one face of the ease center, arc-shaped ribs forining?r part of a common circle upstanding in spaced relation from the case center and receiving between their ends port-ions of the dial by which the rotative position of the latter is fixed, and a bezel shaped to cover the periphery of the dial plate and having spaced means forming part of a eonnnon circle adapted for removable connection to the ribs, substantially as described.

GEO. W. BOWEN. 

